Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillor Balvinder Bains (Slough Borough Council), Councillor David Carroll (Buckinghamshire Council), Councillor Emily Culverhouse (Co-Opted Member – Buckinghamshire Council), Councillor Neil Fawcett (Vale of White Horse District Council)  and Councillor Geoff Saul (West Oxfordshire District Council).

Following notification from the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner of his intention to appoint his preferred candidate to the role of Chief Constable, the Police and Crime Panel must hold a Confirmation Hearing, in accordance with Schedule 8 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.

The Hearing will be undertaken in two parts:

Part 1 - To receive the following reports:

·       Police and Crime Panel Confirmation Hearing Procedure

·       Report of the Police and Crime Commissioner which includes the PCC’s reasons for the appointment and details of the candidate’s suitability for the role, including how this was assessed, and the proposed terms and conditions on which the appointment will be made. Also included were the role profile and an overview of the recruitment process.

·       Independent Panel Member’s Report

Part 2 – Members of the Panel will have the opportunity to ask questions to the PCC’s preferred candidate. In line with guidance from the Local Government Association and Centre for Public Scrutiny, the focus of questioning from the Panel should be limited to issues of professional competence and personal independence. 

NB The Panel will hold a closed session at the end of the agenda to agree its recommendation to the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Police and Crime Commissioner presented his report on the Chief Constable Recruitment Process. This report provided formal notification under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 from the Police and Crime Commissioner to the Police and Crime Panel that the Chief Constable recruitment and selection process has now been completed and the PCC’s preferred candidate is Mr Jason Hogg, who was currently the Deputy Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police.

The Police and Crime Panel is required to consider the proposed appointment to scrutinise the appointment process and has a power of veto. The PCC must not make an appointment unless the candidate fulfils all of the eligibility criteria.

The PCC provided details of his reasons for the appointment and details of the candidate’s suitability for the role, including how this was assessed, and the proposed terms and conditions on which the appointment will be made. Also included were the role profile and an overview of the recruitment process.

The PCC introduced his candidate, Mr Jason Hogg and explained the reasons why be believed the candidate was the most appropriate to undertake this role. The Independent Member who was involved in the selection process, Mr Mark Beard High Sheriff, provided a report with his views on the suitability of the candidate for the post.

The PCC placed on record his appreciation at the soon to be retired Chief Constable John Campbell who had provided great service as Chief Constable.

The following points arose from questions to the preferred candidate:-

·       Driving innovation – Project Vigilant which was an initiative where Police Officers carried out patrols in the night-time economy. Jason Hogg explained that he oversaw the drug diversion scheme and evidence based policing approach would be turned into an action.

·       Violence against Women and Girls – Three years ago the Police response to Domestic Abuse needed improvement. Domestic Abuse has been made a core priority with arrests made more quickly and improved outcomes for victims. There would be a “hearts and minds” approach which included introducing a training video, “Save Lives”.

·       Misogyny – This would have to be made totally unacceptable and make the streets safer with greater patrols in communities.

·       Police Officer misconduct and identifying those in the Force – Much of the criticism of the Police conduct was for Police Officers of the Metropolitan Police with a number suspended for sexual offences. There had been a survey on women and the culture in the Police and a lot of women had commented there had been improvements in conduct and the culture, however, there still needed to be more improvements.

·       Recruitment and Retention, BAME and Women in the Force – The Police Uplift programme was an opportunity to become more diverse. In the last 20 years the demographics of TVP had not changed. TVP had now 24% of new recruits from BAME with the work of the positive engagement team working on encouraging people to apply. There had been an increase in the number of female officers, with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45/22

The Panel is RECOMMENDED that the public be excluded for the remaining discussion on the agenda by virtue of Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 – Information relating to an individual.

RESOLVED - That the public be excluded for the remaining discussion on the agenda by virtue of Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 – Information relating to an individual.

To consider and determine the content of the Panel’s report and recommendations to the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner for the proposed appointment to the role of Chief Constable.

Discussion took place by the Panel on the candidate’s suitability to the post and whether he fulfilled the eligibility criteria.

RESOLVED - That, after having received assurance that a full open and fair selection and recruitment process had taken place, with the preferred candidate fulfilling the eligibility criteria, the Panel endorsed the appointment of Mr. Jason Hogg to the position of Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police.